Pump



l. H. ATHEY Jan. 1939.

PMP

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1936 ,By www l. H. 'ATHEY Jari. 3, 1939.

PUMP

Filed June 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan.3,1939

UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE PUMP Isaac H. Athey, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 13, 1936, Serial No. 85,026

\ 19 Claims.

This invention relates to pumps particularly adapted for use in deep oil wells, and has for a generalobject the provision of a novel and improved pump rmechanism whose operation is automatic and'fis effected by a continuous supply of compressed air or other gas at a constant high pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump having means for positively discharging oil or other liquid from a pump chamber, and additional means for aiding the rise of the liquid to the surface of the ground by lightening the column of oil.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an emcient pump of simple and economical construction in which a maximum o f work is accomplished for any given size of pump.

Other objects of the invention will appear as` are hereinafter disclosed and claimed, and as set forth in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross section of the pump mechanism, showing the parts in the positions they assume when the piston is discharging liquid from the pump cylinder;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the pump mechanism, showing the parts in the positions they assume when the piston is being carried to the top of its stroke by the liquid flowing into the pump cylinder from the well;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the pump mechanism, showing the parts in the positions they assumewhen the piston has reached the top of its stroke and is about to start on the down stroke;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross section of the pump mechanism corresponding to Figure 2, but showing thel exhaust passageway at the upper end of the pump; and

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the pump mechanism corresponding to Figure 3, but showing the exhaust passageway at the upper end of the pump mechanism and also showing means for preventing the deposit of foreign material in the exhaust pipe.

In the drawings the small broken arrows indicate the flow of air, the small solid arrows indicate the ow of oil, and the large solid arrows indicate the direction of travel of the piston.

Referring to the drawings, the pump mechanism herein disclosed consists of a pump housing I concentric with and in spaced relation about a pump cylinder II. The space between these two members `forms a discharge chamber I2. An inlet port I3 connects the pump cylinder II with the well, and a discharge port I4 connects the pump cylinder Il with the discharge chamber I2. In the pump cylinder. I I there is a reciprocable pump piston I movable by a differential of pressure on its opposite sides.

The pump housing IU and the pump cylinder II are secured at one end to a head portion I6. At the other end, the pump cylinder II has secured to it an annular ring 40 which is seated into a cylinder head 43 which is secured to the end of the pump housing I0. This cylinder head 43 forms an end of the discharge chamber I2. 'I'he head portion I6 is also connected to a pump discharge pipe I1, and to a compressed air or other gas supply pipe I8, which vextend to the surface of the ground, and to an exhaust pipe I9, which extends some distance above the level of the oil in the well and opens to the atmosphere therefrom through an outer casing in the well shaft. The exhaust pipe I9 is protected at the point where it discharges into the pump casing by a floating collar 53 which is slidably mounted onl the pipe I8 so that it will be opened by the ex-v hausting air and will be closed when there is no air exhausting thus preventing foreign material from entering the exhaust pipe.

In the head portion I6 there is a foaming nozzle or other suitable fitting 20 that directs compressed air upwardly into the column of liquid above the pump mechanism in the pump 'discharge pipe I'I so as to distribute fine bubbles of air throughout this column. This nozzle 20 is interchangeable in the head portion I6 so that a nozzle of appropriate size may be `employed depending upon the nature of the liquid to be pumped in order that the pump may be operated most effectively for any given set of conditions.

The head portion I6 has a passageway 2| d1- recting the liquid from the discharge chamber I2 to the pump discharge pipe I1, a passageway 22 connecting the compressed air supply pipe I8. with passageways 23 and 24 which lead to the "foaming nozzle 20 and the pump cylinder II, respectively, and an exhaust passageway 25 connecting the pump cylinder II to the air exhaust pipe I9.

In the head portion I6 there is a sleeve valve 26 Y pressure supply passageway 24 when it is in its 55 upper position, as shown in Figure 1, and for connecting the pump cylinder II to the exhaust passageway 25 through the port 50 in its upper end when it is in its lower position, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. 1n addition, there is an annular groove 5I on said sleeve valve which allows air under pressure to flow in the air supply passageway 23 to the foaming nozzle 20 when the valve is in its lower position.

When the sleeve valve 26 is in its upper position, the port 5| is closed by the valve being seated against a plug 52, by the force of a spring 21. This plug 52 is threaded into the head portion I6.

'Ihe sleeve valve 26 is held in its upper position by the spring 21 supported by a housing 36, which is secured to the head portion I6 and extends into the pump cylinder II. The sleeve valve 26 is moved against the tension of the spring 21 by a control rod 28 which extends through the pump cylinder I I and along which the piston I5 travels. This control rod 28 extends inside of the sleeve valve 26 and has a head 48 which engages the lower end of said valve. The control rod 28 is secured at its lower end in a sleeve 29 which is movable in a guide 30 supported from an annular ring 3l secured to the walls of the pump cylinder II at its lower end.

The sleeve 29 has a shoulder 32 at its upper end which the piston I5 will engage on its downward stroke so as`to carry the rod.28 and the sleeve valve 26 down, thereby compressing the spring 21.

Pivotally mounted on the spring housing 36 are dogs 33, the inner ends of which are resiliently urged through apertures in said housing by spring fingers 35. Thus, when the sleeve valve 26 has been carried downward by the action above described, the dogs 33 will latch over4 a flange 34 on the sleeve valve 26 so as to hold it in its lower position.

'I'he upper end of the pump piston I5 is hollow, so that when it reaches the top of its stroke the housing 36 projects inside of the piston I5 and the side walls of the piston I5 engage the outer ends of the dogs 33, moving the dogs 33 against the spring fingers 35 to unlatch the sleeve valve 26, which is automatically carriedto its upper position by the spring 21. The pump piston I5 is guided along the control rod 28 by a long sleeve 31 which is secured in the head of said piston. A ange 38 is threaded on the end of the pump piston I5, and a gasket 39 or other sealing means is secured under said flange.

'I'he discharge port I4 is in the annular ring 40 and is normally closed by a discharge valve 4 I. The discharge valve 4I is a check valve opening into the discharge chamber I2, and is held closed by a spring 42. This valve 4I will open only under the high pressure from the pump cylinder II during the down stroke of the piston I5. The spring 42 is of sufficient strength to insure the lifting of the piston I5 by the pressure from the well before allowing the valve to open. The inletl port I3 is in the cylinder head 43 and is closed by an inlet valve 44 which operates in said inlet port. This valve 44 is a check valve opening into the pump cylinder II when pressure from the well alone is acting on it, and closing when pressure is applied in the pump cylinder II. A spring 45 acts on the inlet valve 44 to insure Aa positive closing of the inlet valve 44 and has comparatively little strength.

Below the cylinder head 43 is a perforated guard pipe 46, and about this pipe a screen 41 of helically wound, at wire is secured, which apparatus protects the operating parts of the pump against sand or other foreign matter while admitting the influx of liquid from the well.

The sections herein shown and described are the sections which are located in proximity to the lower end of the well, and constitute the pumping mechanism only. There are pipe sections and other apparatus above this that are not shown or described as they do not constitute part of this invention.

The operation of the pumping mechanism herein described is entirely automatic, and as will be seen from the construction, gives a maximum of efficiency for any given size of pump. The operation of this pump is as follows:

Assuming the piston I5 to be at the lower end of its stroke, the cylinder II above said piston is open to the exhaust. Then oil from the well, being under pressure, will enter through the perforated pipe 46 after having been filtered by the screen 41, and will force the valve 44 open against the tension of its associated spring 45. The iniiux of the oil into the pump cylinder II will carry the piston I5 to the top of its stroke. When the piston I5 reaches the top of its stroke, it will strike the dogs 33, unlatching them from the flange 34 on the sleeve valve 26, thus allowing the spring 21 to carry the sleeve valve to its upper position. This movement of the sleeve valve closes the exhaust passage 25, and connects the air supply passageway 24 to the pump cylinder II, so that the piston I5 will be forced down in the pump cylinder II, thereby closing the valve 44 and forcing the discharge valve 4I open against the tension of the spring 42, whereupon the oil in the pump cylinder II is discharged'past the valve 4I and into the discharge chamber I2.

At the lower end of its stroke the head of the piston I5 engages the shoulder 32 on tlie end of the control rod 28 by which the sleeve valve 26 is shifted to its lower position. When the piston I5 has reached its lowermost position the sleeve valve 26 has been carried to its lower position, and the dogs 33 latch over the flange 34 on the sleeve valve to hold it down against the tension of the spring 21. This shuts'off the air pressure behind the piston I5 and allows the valve 4I to be closed by its spring 42, thus preventing any of the oil which has already been forced into the discharge chamber I2 from reentering the pump cylinder II.

The sleeve valve 26 in its downward position allows the compressed air to flow through the passageway 23 to a foaming nozzle 20 which directs a jet of air upwardly into the column of oil in the oil discharge passageway 2| and the pump discharge pipe I1. This foaming nozzle distributes fine bubbles of the air throughout the oil tending to carry the oil upwardly, lightening the column of oil, and causing it to rise more easily and readily.

In this pump there is a constant use of compressed air at a high pressure for the purpose of lifting the liquid, this compressed air being alternately supplied to a piston I5 for positively discharging the oil in the pump cylinder II and to the "foaming nozzle 20. 'Ihe operation of this pump mechanism is entirely automatic and it will adapt itself to any rate of flow of oil from the well without any adjustments.

During the pumping operation it-'i's only necessary that my novel pump be connected to a source of air or other gas under sufficient pressure to raise the oil to the surface of the ground,

its operation thereafter is entirely automatic requiring no attention or external operation whatsoever. In the event that the pressure in the well itself is suicient to raise the oil to the surface without aid from the pump, the air supply ior the pump may be out off, whereupon the oil itself will open the discharge valve i4 and flow to the surface.

While this pump is particularly adapted. for use in deep oil wells, it is capable of use in water wells and other types. A preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, various modications may be made, and the applicant in no way limits himself to the exact construction which has been shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire'to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a pump mechanism for wells, the combination of a pump cylinder, a pump housing about and in spaced relation to said pump cylinder whereby a discharge chamber is formed between the cylinder and housing, a pump piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, an inlet valve for said pump cylinder for admitting liquid from the well to the pump cylinder and for preventing the return of the liquid to thev Well when pressure is app-lied to the liquid in the pump cylinder by said piston, a discharge valve.

for said pump cylinder whereby the liquid in said cylinderv is discharged into said chamber when pressure is applied by said pump piston, said last-named valve preventing the return of liquid to said pump cylinder from said discharge chamber, means for distributing compressed gas through the liquid comprising a nozzle located adjacent the upper end of said discharge chamber for directing a jet of gas into a column of liquid thereabove, and valve means automatically operated by said piston for controlling communication between a source of gas under pressure and said nozzle and cylinder and for controlling communication between said cylinder and an exhaust passage, said gas under pressure being alternately supplied to said cylinder and nozzle.

2. In a device for elevating liquids from deep wells, asupply pipe for gas under pressure, a gas exhaust pipe, a pump discharge pipe, a pump cylinder, a check valve in said cylinder for admitting liquid from a well, a second valve in said cylinder whereby liquid is discharged therefrom, a pump housing concentric with and arranged in spaced relation about said pump cylinder and forming a discharge chamber connecting with said pump cylinder through said discharge valve, said discharge chamber being in communication with said pump discharge pipe, a piston reciprocable in saidpump cylinder and operable by the alternate application of gas pressure on one side and liquid pressure on the other side thereof, a gas tting for foaming the liquid entering the discharge pipe, and valve means automatically operable by the movement of the piston for alternately directing gas under pressure to the pump cylinder and foaming fitting and for connecting the pump cylinder to the exhaust pipe during the foaming operation.

' 3; Ina deep well pump of the class described for, wells having variable rates of flow, the combination of a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which liquid`from `the well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe in communication with said discharge valve, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge liquid from said cylinder, a nozzle for directing a jet of gas into the liquid discharged from said cylinder, valve means controlling the supply of compressed gas to saidcylinder and said nozzle, said cylinder and nozzle being alternately supplied with gas under pressure, and piston operated means for shifting said valve at a rate varying automatically with the rate of flow of said well.

4. In a deep well pump of the class described for` wells having variable rates of ow, the combination of a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which the oil from the well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe concentric with and in spaced relation about said cylinder in communication with said discharge valve, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge oll from said cylinder, a nozzle for directing a jet of gas into the oil discharged from said cylinder, valve means controlling the supply of compressed gas to said cylinder, said cylinder and nozzle being alternately supplied with gas under pressure, and piston operated means vfor shifting said valve means automatically at a rate varying with the rate of flow of said well.

' 5. In a deep well pump of the class described for wells having variable rates of flow, the combination of a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which the oil from the well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe concentric with and in spaced relation about said cylinder in communication with said discharge valve, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge oil from said cylinder, a nozzle for directing a jet of gas into oil discharged from said cylinder, valve means controlling the supply of compressed gas to said cylinder and for opening said cylinder to an exhaust passage, said cylinder and nozzle being alternately supplied with gas under pressure, and piston operating means for shifting said valve at a rate varying automatically with the rate of ow of said well.

6. In a pump mechanism for elevating liquids from deep wells, the combination of a cylindrical casing, a pump cylinder located therein, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a strainer forming a cylindrical continuation of said casing, an inlet valve for said cylinder communicating with the interior of said strainer, a gas pressure supply pipe for said pump cylinder, a gas exhaust pipe therefor, said gas exhaust pipe forming a cylindrical continuation of said casing, said gas supply pipe being located within said exhaust pipe, a liquid discharge pipe within said exhaust pipe, and valve means for controlling the admission and exhaust of gas from said pump cylinder.

'7. In a deep Well pump of the class described for wells having variable rates of flow, the combination oa cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which the ,oil from the well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a Well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe concentric with and in spaced relation about said cylinder in communication with said discharge valve, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge oil from said cylinder, a nozzle located adjacent tothe upper end of said discharge pipe for distributing gas through the oil that has been lifted to a position above said nozzle, valve means controlling the supply of vcompressed gas alternately to said cylinder and said nozzle and for connecting said cylinder to an exhaust passage while gas is being supplied to said/nozzle, and piston operated means for shifting said valve means automatically at a rate varying with the rate of flow of the well.

8. In a pump mechanism for deep wells, the combination of a cylindrical casing, a pump cylinder located therein and concentric therewith, there being a discharge passage for said pump cylinder located between said pump cylinder and said casing, a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, a iiltering inlet for said pump cylinder forming a cylindrical continuation thereof, pipe means connecting said pump cylinder and discharge passage with the surface of the ground adjacent a well, said pipe means being in alignment with said casing and having a cross-section with no dimension greater than the diameter of said casing, and valve means operated by said piston for controlling communication between said pump cylinder and said pipe means whereby Said pump cylinder is alternately connected with a source of gas under pressure and with atmosphere.

9. In a deep well pump of the class described for wells having variable rates of ow, the combination of a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which the oil from the well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe concentric with and in spaced relation about said cylinder in communication with said discharge valve, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge oil from said cylinder, a nozzle for directing a jet of gas into cil discharged from said cylinder, valve means controlling a supply of compressed gas to said cylinder and said nozzle and for opening said cylinder to an exhaust passage, said cylinder and nozzle being alternately supplied with gas under pressure, and piston operated means for shifting said valve at a` rate varying automatically with the rate of ilow of said Well, said valve means comprising a sleeve valve having ports for alternately connectlng said cylinder and said nozzle with the source of compressed gas and for connecting said cylinder to the exhaust passage when the source of compressed gas is connected with said nozzle.

10. In a device for elevating liquids from deep wells, the combination of a cylindrical casing, a pump cylinder located therein, an inlet valve for said pump cylinder, a cylindrical strainer surrounding said inlet valve, said cylindrical strainer and said casing being in axial alignment, valve means for alternately connecting said pump cylinder with a source of gas under pressure and with atmosphere, said valve means being concentrically mounted in said casing, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder for operating said valve means, said valve means comprising a single movable member for controlling the iiow of gas to and from said cylinder, a foaming jet for facilitating raising of liquid from said casing to the surface of the ground, a compressed gas supply passage for said jet controlled by said member, and pipe means leading from said casing to the surface of the ground, said pipe means being in alignment with said casing and having an outside diameter less than the diameter of said casing.

11. In a pump mechanism for deep wells having variable rates of flow, the combination of a pump cylinder, a pump housing concentric with and in spaced relation about said pump cylinder whereby a discharge chamber is formed between the cylinder and the housing, a check valve opening into said pump cylinder for admitting liquid from the well, a check valve opening into the discharge chamber for admittingliquid to said discharge chamber from the pump cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder movable therein by the differential of pressure on its opposite sides, said piston being the means of discharging liquid from the pump cylinder to the discharge chamber, a nozzle for directing a jet of gas into oil discharged from said pump cylinder, a source of compressed gas for operating said nozzle, single valve means for connecting said pump cylinder and said nozzle alternately with said source of compressed gas and for connecting said pump cylinder with an exhaust passage, and means operable automatically by said piston for shifting said Valve means at intervals depending on the rate oi flow of the well comprising a spring for actuating said valve means, a control rod engageable by said piston when it reaches the lower end of its stroke for moving said valve against the force of said spring, means for releasably latching said valve in the last said position, and means on said piston for unlatching said valve when the piston reaches the upper end of its stroke.

12. In a device for elevating liquids from deep Wells, the combination of a pump cylinder, a casing inclosing said cylinder, said casing being spaced from said pump cylinder and providing a passageway therebetween, a cylinder head for said pump cylinder closing the lower end of said passageway, a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, a valve control rod passing through said piston, a guide for the lower end of said rod supported in said pump cylinder, valve means operated by said rod, said valve means comprising a movable sleeve, a spring for urging said sleevey to one position, dogs for locking said sleeve in a second position, said dogs having parts engaged by said piston to release said dogs, a cylinder head supporting said valve means and having passages controlled by said sleeve, and s upply and exhaust pipes connecting said cylinder head with the surface of the ground.

13. In a device for elevating liquids from deep wells, the combination of a pump cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a port connecting said cylinder with a well in which it is located, a discharge port for said cylinder, means providing a passageway connecting said discharge port with the surface of the ground, a cylinder head, a valve reciprocable therein, a spring carried by said cylinder head for urging said valve to one position, a foaming jet in said cylinder head, said head being provided with passages through which air under pressure is supplied to said cylinder and jet, means operated by said piston for moving said'valve against the tension of said spring to control the passages in said piston head, dogs for locking said valve in a second position, and means whereby said dogs are released upon a predetermined movement of said piston.

14. In a deep well pump of the class described for wells having variable rates of flow, the combination of a pump cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which liquid from the well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe in c'ommunication with said discharge valve, said discharge pipe being concentric with said pump cylinder, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge liquid from said cylinder, a foaming jet in said discharge pipe for facilitating raising of liquid from said discharge pipe to the surface of the ground, valve means controlling the supply of compressed gas to said cylinder, and piston operated means located in said pump cylinder for shifting said valve at a rate varying automatically with the rate of iiow of said Well.

15. In a deep Well pump of the class described for wells having variable rates of ow, the combination of a pump cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which liquid from the well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe in communication with said discharge valve, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge liquid fromsaid cylinder, a foaming jet in said discharge pipe for facilitating raising of liquid from said discharge pipe to the surface of the ground, valve means controlling the supply of compressed gas to said cylinder, and piston operated means located in said pump cylinder for shifting said valve at a rate varying automatically withthe rate of flow of said Well.

16. In a deep well pump of the class described for wells having variable rates of flow, the combination f a pump cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which liquid from the' well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe in communicationv with said discharge valve, said discharge pipe being concentric withsaid pump cylinder, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge liquid from said cylinder, means to direct compressed gas into the discharge pipe, valve means controlling the supply -of compressed gas to said cylinder, and piston operated means located in said pump cylinder for shifting said Valve at a rate varying automatically with the rate of flow of said well.

17. In a deep well pump of the class described for wells having Variable rates of flow, the combi'- nation of a pump cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for said cylinder through which liquid from the well enters said cylinder by virtue of pressure existing in a well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe in communication with said discharge valve, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge liquid from said cylinder, means to direct compressed gas into the discharge pipe, valve means controlling the supply of compressed gas to said cylinder, and piston operated means located in said pump cylinder for shifting said valve at a rate varying automatically with the rate ofow of said well.

18. In a pump for elevating liquids from deep wells, the combination comprising: a reciprocat- 'ing' piston pump in said well, a liquid conduit from said pump to the surface of the ground, means to reciprocate said piston in one direction under the iniiuece of compressed gas supplied from the surface of the ground, means to reciprocate said piston in the opposite direction under the iniiuence of liquid pressure in said well, and means to direct compressed gas into the rising column of liquid.

19. In a deep well pump of the class described for wells having variable rates of flow, the combi nation of a pump cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an inlet valve for s'aid cylinder through which liquid from the well enters the cylinder by ;;v

virtue of pressure existing in the well, a discharge valve for said cylinder, a discharge pipe in communication with said discharge valve, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston to discharge liquid from said cylinder, valve means controlling the supply of compressed gas to said cylinder, positive locking means to hold said compressed gas valve openV or closed, depending upon the position of said piston in said cylinder.

ISAAC H. ATHEY. 

